Council to review Alliance contractThe Russellville City Council discussed renewing a contract with the Arkansas Valley Alliance for Economic Development (AVAED) and decided to wait another month before taking any action. New Alliance Director Paul Harvell told the council why there are economic development alliances and where they came from. He explained they started with Gov. Mike Huckabee, who pushed real hard to put alliances in separate areas of the state. He had people in...

Clarksville School Board installs bus as bridgeCLARKSVILLE — The Clarksville School Board met on Monday, approved a bid for the walking trail behind Pyron Elementary and considered personnel matters. Steven Wyatt, assistant superintendent, said the school, through a partnership with the city, received a joint user agreement from the state in the amount of $30,500. The money will be used to build a walking trail approximately three-quarters of a mile long (including the bus road) which will...

Annual Fall Fest at Depot next SaturdayRussellville Downtown will host the annual Fall Fest, or what some describe as a "harvest homecoming." "It's an intimate feeling, socially and culturally," said Betsy McGuire, Main Street Russellville executive director. "It's a great time to come downtown." The festival and Chili Cook Off will take place on Saturday, Oct. 29, and begin at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast. The Knights of Columbus are hosting the three-hour-long breakfast at Ame...

S.T.O.P. the risk of skin cancer in childrenPottsville Middle Grades Social Studies teacher Sarah Shewmake is thrilled to bring a wonderful program to Pottsville School District that provides protection for students on the playground. Shade Trees on Playgrounds (STOP) is a program designed to provide large, quality shade trees to playgrounds, parks, ball fields, trails and other places children play in the sun. The USDA Forest Service Plant-A-Tree Program provides public schools with th...

Sister Josita NahlenEighty-one years ago, at 18-years-old, Sister Mary Josita Nahlen decided to take her vows and become a nun. Nahlen was a devoted relative, teacher and servant of God. Nahlen was born on July 29, 1917, in Conway, as Christine Catherine. Nahlen went to school at Saint Joseph's in Conway. Her uncle was the third Abbot Fr. Paul Nahlen at the Subiaco Abbey. "She was about 16 when she decided she wanted to be a nun. During that time, in the Catholic...

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BY EMILY SRADER AND THE ARKANSAS CATHOLIC
newsclerk@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Engine 844 set to stop in RussellvilleSPRING, Texas -- Union Pacific's 'Living Legend' No. 844 steam locomotive will travel more than 1,200 miles one-way to celebrate today's opening of Big River Crossing in Memphis, Tenn. The trek is the first multi-state venture since the locomotive's three-year restoration. No. 844 began its journey on Union Pacific's main line through Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee on Oct. 13. Brief stops are sc...

3 states say they denied Russia request to monitor electionOKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma and at least two other states said Friday that they have denied efforts by Russian officials to be present at polling stations during the election, requests the U.S. State Department's spokesman dismissed as "nothing more than a PR stunt." The Oklahoma secretary of state's office said it received a letter in August from Russia's consulate general in Houston seeking to have one of its officers present at a voting precin...

Panel approves expansion for NW Arkansas charter schoolsLITTLE ROCK — A state panel has approved expansion plans for two charter schools in northwest Arkansas and gave the OK to Arkansas' first adult-education charter school. The Charter Authorizing Panel on Wednesday approved the expansion request from Fayetteville's Haas Hall Academy, which wants to open a campus in Rogers to accommodate up to 500 students. The committee also approved a 400-seat expansion request from Arkansas Arts Academy in Rog...

Police: 5 juveniles arrested for school bomb threatsHOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) — Hot Springs police say five juveniles have been arrested on felony charges for five recent bomb threats against local middle and high schools. The Sentinel-Record (http://bit.ly/2ebBKvY ) reports that the juveniles include both males and females, ranging in age from 13 to 16 years old. Police say the juveniles called in a bomb threat on Oct. 13 and Oct. 14 as well as three times on Monday. Authorities say they have bee...

Commission recommends roadway workMembers of the Oakland Cemetery Commission recommended to accept a bid from Bowden Specialties for $10,400 to build a roadway to the memorial garden addition during the regular meeting Tuesday. Public Works Director Kurt Jones showed designs of the project that will include a roadway, sidewalks and landscaping of the memorial garden around the columbarium. The other bid to build the road, more than 100 feet, was submitted by Blackstone Constru...

Candidate Q&A: Russell HullEditor’s note: The Courier reached out to the candidates vying for Yell County Justice of the Peace. The candidates were asked the same questions and their answers are listed below. Why are you seeking this position? I'm seeking the Yell county justice of the peace District 10 position because I’m simply tired of my local government spending more money than we have and taxing people out of their jobs and their homes. We need a smarter local go...

A bright future of faithChristians today worry over things that are so trivial that they are hardly noticed as they come and go without incident. Worry has no positive effect on our lives. However, the negative effects can be devastating. At this point, I want to address the worries that the majority of us share concerning terrorism, particularly domestic terrorism and threats of destruction to society, as we know it. The 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center is one...

Church Happenings ( )Trunk or Treat The First Cumberland Presbyterian Church invites the public to a Trunk or Treat from 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 29. The church will provide candy and crafts for children. The church is located at 1200 N. Arkansas Ave. Delaware First Baptist concert Glenn Mixon and Redemption will perform at 5:30 p.m, Sunday at the Delaware First Baptist Church. The church is located at 25037 E State Highway 22. For more information, call Marie Norris at 4...

Community people: Ernest Ehabe, Dr Stephen JonesTHE COURIER / Submitted The guest speaker at the Russellville Rotary Club on Oct. 13 was Ernest Ehabe from Cameroon, Africa. Ernest attended Arkansas Tech University and after spending time in the U.S., returned to his home country of Cameroon to begin Bread for Life International. Pictured with Ernest (right) is Rotarian Dr. Stephen Jones.

Candidate Q&A: Kris LottEditor’s note: The Courier reached out to the candidates vying for Yell County Justice of the Peace. The candidates were asked the same questions and their answers are listed below. Why are you seeking this position? Yell County has been good to me and my family throughout our lives. I wouldn't want to live any where else — this is home. Now, I would like to try and give something back to this county. I feel that it's my civic duty to run for ...

Broussard guiltyA former Russellville funeral director appeared in Russellville District Court Wednesday and was found guilty of indecent exposure and harassment. District Judge Don Bourne found James Broussard guilty of the charges and sentenced him to six months in jail. However, according to City Attorney Trey Smith, Broussard pleaded no contest for the purpose of an appeal to Pope County Circuit Court. If he files the appeal within 30 days, the sentence w...

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Courier staff reportsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Drug take back event scheduled for SaturdayOn Saturday, the Russellville Police Department will be assisting in the "National Drug Take it Back Initiative" which will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Russellville Wal-Mart, on East Main Street. Statistics have shown more than 2,500 young teens between ages 12-17 abuse prescription drugs each day and it has become the leading cause of death over any other illegal drug. 70 percent of people 12 and older claim to receive the prescr...

O Street work continues, street closedTHE COURIER / Joshua Mashon A dump truck leaves a closed section of O Street in Russellville Thursday morning as work continues during the initial stages of the street reconstruction. The section of road between North Boston Avenue and North Parker Road will remain closed for up to nine months. The street has been milled and crews are currently working on storm drains. Motorists are asked to find an alternate route during the closure.